Fastening for refrigerator-doors.



Patented Sept. l9, I899. M. J. KENNY.

FASTENING FOR REFRIGERATOR DOORS.

5N0 Model.

NiTED STATES PATENT Prion.

MICHAEL J. KENNY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FASTENING FOR REFRIGERATOR-DOORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,552, dated September 19, 1899.

Application filed October 19, 189 8. Serial No. 694,030. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

3e it known that 1, MICHAEL J. KENNY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi cage, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fas'tenings for Refrigerator-Doors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The present invention relates to that class of fastenings for refrigerator-doors and the like in which the parts after an initial engagement are adapted to impart a slow and powerful closing movement to the door by a final operation of the fastening by hand.

The object of the present improvement is to provide a simple, durable, and effective construction and arrangement of parts with which both an initial opening of the door as well as the usual final closing thereof is effected by the operation of the fastening by hand, as will hereinafter more fully appear, and be more particularly pointed out in the claim. I attain such object by the construc tion and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator-door fastening embodying the present invention; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 a side elevation of the fixed member thereof.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

In the present construct-ion, as represented in the drawings, the fixed member, usually secured to the door, will consist of an attaching base-plate l and a substantially rectangular loop or hasp portion 2, projecting outwardly therefrom, as shown, its vertical and outer member 3 being of an inclined nature, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and formed with a cam-shaped inner bearing-su rface 4, while the base-plate 1 will also be formed with a counterpart and oppositely-arran ged cam projection or bearing-surface 5.

The movable member of the fastening, usually secured to the door-jamb, will comprise a fixed attaching-base 6 and a lever 7, pivoted thereto by its central hub 8 in any usual manner. One end of said lever constitutes the operating-handle for the fastening, while the other and shorter end of the lever is adapted to engage'in the hasp or loop portion 2 of the fixed member 1 and in the movement of the leverin one direction to ride upon the cam or bearing surface 5 to impart a final closing movement to the door and in a movement of the lever in an opposite direction to ride upon the cam or inclined bearing surface 4 to impart an initial opening movement to the door.

It is a material part of the present improvement to form at the lower end of the respeo tive cam or bearing surfaces 4 and 5 fiat or sunken rest portions 9 and 10, in which the engaging end of the lever 7 rests on its final movement and is held against accidental disengagement.

Another material part of the present invention consists in the formation of the hasp portion 2 of the door member of a closed rectangular formation, as shown, with the upper and lower members thereof rigidly connected to the attachingbase 1, in that a very strong and rigid yet light construction is attained and one thatis adapted to withstand theheavy strains to which the present type of fastening is exposed in use; and in connection with the above a further material feature of the present invention consists in forming the engaging end of the lever 7 of a very short natu re, so that the same will afford great leverage in effecting a final closing or opening of the door and what is of as great moment in the present improved construction will freely enter and leave the closed hasp construction of the door member of the fastening above described.

In use the hasp or loop portion 2 affords a ready convenient hold for the operator in opening or closing the door to its full extent, while when the door is open and the fastening in an inoperative condition the lever 7 hangs vertically in a position out of the Way.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein-described fastening for refrigerator-doors and thelike, the same comprising a jamb member, formed by a fixed base and a lever pivoted thereto, one end of which constitutes the operating-handle and the other end the engaging bar of the fastening; and a door member formed by a base-plate, a rigid hasp portion projecting therefrom and having a closed rectangular formation, the inner face of the outer member of the hasp being inclined outwardly toward its lower end, and a cam projection on the base-plate opposite the inner inclined face of the hasp portion, said inclined or cam surfaces being formed with sunken of the other member in place, substantially as set forth. I

In testimony whereof witness my hand this 12th day of October, 1898.

MICHAEL J. KENNY. In presence of- ROBERT BURNS, I JAMES LAVALLIN.

I portions at their lower ends to lock the lever 10 

